Coronal Hard X-raysCome of Age
H. S. Hudson
SSL, UC Berkeley
St. Andrews Jan. 20, 2009
What are coronal hard X-rays?
• Direct emission from dynamic structures in the corona, rather than Neupert/SHS/footpoint paradigm
• An alternative source of knowledge (viz. radio) on particle distribution functions
• RHESSI (the 4th HXR imager) has shown that one can routinely see coronal hard X-ray emission
St. Andrews Jan. 20, 2009
A deceptive view of flare physics?
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St. Andrews Jan. 20, 2009
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Old
New
Coronal Hard X-rays: Old & New
St. Andrews Jan. 20, 2009
Conclusions
• Krucker et al., A&A Review 2008• All major events show high coronal hard X-ray sources• Emission detected even at energies above 100 keV• Focusing optics holds great promise to extend this
diagnostic tool by orders of magnitude in sensitivity
St. Andrews Jan. 20, 2009
Challenge
• How can we make new progress in high-energy solar physics?
- a RHESSI follow-on
- a Nobeyama follow-on (FASR)